Lukhanyo Am

Lukhanyo Am (born 28 November 1993) is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and the Sharks in Super Rugby.[1] His regular position is centre.

Lukhanyo Am
Date of birth (1993-11-28) 28 November 1993
Place of birthKing William's Town, South Africa
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight98 kg (216 lb; 15 st 6 lb)
SchoolHoerskool De Vos Malan High School, King William's Town
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team Sharks
Youth career
2012 Border Bulldogs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 Border Bulldogs 2 (0)
2014 Falcons 2 (5)
2015 Border Bulldogs 18 (5)
2016 Southern Kings 10 (5)
2016–2017 Sharks (Currie Cup) 17 (20)
2017–present Sharks 48 (50)
Correct as of 7 July 2019
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016 South Africa 'A' 2 (0)
2017–present South Africa 15 (15)
Correct as of 3 November 2019

Career

He played for the Margate-based Gladiators Rugby Academy before he was called into the Border Bulldogs Under–19 squad[2] that won the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship Division B and winning promotion to Division A, making six appearances and scoring three tries.

After spending time with Saracens during the off-season as part of an exchange programme in conjunction with the British High Commission,[3] he returned to be included in the senior squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition and made his senior debut against defending champions Western Province in Paarl.[4]

In 2013, he was named in a South African Barbarians team to face Saracens in London.[5]

Southern Kings

At the start of 2016, Am was one of two Sharks players that joined the Southern Kings' Super Rugby squad for a trial period as they prepared for the 2016 Super Rugby season.[6]

South Africa 'A'

In 2016, Am was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.[7] He came on as a replacement in their first match in Bloemfontein,[8] but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.[9] He was promoted to the starting line-up for the second match of the series, a 26–29 defeat to the Saxons in George.[10]

Sharks

After a successful spell at Southern Kings there were high expectations that he had to meet. He did not disappoint and played a crucial part for the Sharks, helping them reach the quarter finals of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Super Rugby seasons. In January 2020, Am was named captain of the Sharks for the 2020 Super Rugby season[11], replacing the retiring Tendai Mtwararira.

South Africa

In 2017, Am was included in the South African squad for the 2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals.

Am was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[12] South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.[13] Am played a central role in the Springboks' campaign, featuring in six out of seven matches. He assisted South Africa's first try in a Rugby World Cup final.

Test Match Record
As of 3 November 2019
Against P W D L Tri Pts %Won
 Argentina32011566.67
 England330000100
 Italy110015100
 Japan220000100
 Namibia110015100
 New Zealand31110050
 Wales21010050
Total15111331576.67

Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

Test tries
TriesOppositionLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1 ArgentinaDurban, South AfricaKings Park Stadium2018 Rugby Championship18 August 2018Won 34–21
1 NamibiaAichi Prefecture, JapanToyota Stadium2019 Rugby World Cup28 September 2019Won 57–3
1 Italy Fukuroi, JapanShizuoka Stadium2019 Rugby World Cup4 October 2019Won 49–3

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Lukhanyo Am". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "Border Bound". South Coast Fever. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  3. "Exchange programme offers previously disadvantaged players big dreams" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 22-13 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. "South African Barbarians name squad for City clash". Saracens. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  6. "New recruits as Southern Kings 2016 season starts" (Press release). Eastern Province Kings. 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  7. "Ackermann to coach SA 'A' against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. [{{{archiveurl}}} Archived] Check |archiveurl= value (help) from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  8. "Youth and experience for SA 'A' opener against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2016. [{{{archiveurl}}} Archived] Check |archiveurl= value (help) from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 24-32 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 26-29 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  11. https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/bok-centre-am-named-sharks-captain-for-2020-20200121
  12. "South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped". Independent. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  13. "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
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